We're 27 days away from the 2025 NBA Draft. It's an event that shapes the futures of 60 of the world's best basketball prospects, as well as the 30 franchises across the association. As far as futures go, that of the Boston Celtics is as uncertain as it's been in quite some time.
The Cs will be without Jayson Tatum for the majority, if not all of next season, as he rehabs a torn Achilles. In addition, it feels inevitable that some familiar faces will be traded away this summer to help the team shed about $20 million in salary and get beneath the NBA's second apron line.
Under the most recent update to the league's collective bargaining agreement, teams who spend above that threshold are [harshly punished](https://hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celtics-desperately-need-avoid-second-apron-cba-explanation-penalties-taxes-more). The second apron and its consequences will be something for the Celtics and other teams to worry about for the foreseeable future.
Hitting on their 28th and 32nd picks in this year's draft is a great way for Boston to add talent to the roster without having to pay a premium price, which can hopefully aid them in avoiding the CBA penalties down the line.
A recent mock draft from No Ceilings projects the Celtics picking KK Cedevita Olimpija center Joan Beringer with their second-round pick. The 18-year-old appeared in 59 games for the club this season, but only played 18.1 minutes in each outing. In the short minutes, he averaged 5.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 62.4% from the floor.
**Does Joan Beringer make sense for the Celtics?**
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Absolutely, especially with the 32nd pick.
Drafting a center may be the smartest play for the Celtics next month. There's a world where they enter next season without any of their top three center options from this past year. Kristaps Porzingis is one of the names most prominently mentioned in trade rumors, while both Al Horford and Luke Kornet are unrestricted free agents.
That scenario would leave Boston with a center rotation of Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman Sr.
Now, it's not the most likely outcome, but it is possible.
If the Celtics were to bring in Beringer, he wouldn't be an instant rotation guy. He's certainly got promise but has some work to do before he's ready for significant playing time in the NBA. The six-foot-ten Frenchman declared for the NBA Draft last month, nearly four years after the first time he touched a basketball.
[ESPN's Jonathan Givony](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44853028/french-center-joan-beringer-enter-nba-draft) spoke with Beringer shortly after his declaration and learned that he only started playing basketball because his feet had gotten so big that he couldn't find soccer cleats that fit him.
That transition comes with drawbacks and perks. For example, the big man isn't the most fundamentally sound defender, but does a great job of moving with smaller players and recovering when he's beaten. Beringer is an exciting shot-blocker who consistently sends layups and floaters into the stands. He'll even close strong defensive possessions by erasing a three-point attempt on occasion.
His versatility on defense alone makes him an intriguing prospect, espcially for Boston. The Celtics have leaned into switching as much as possible on that end for years and Beringer has potential to be a great fit in their system.
He's also a freak athlete. Of course, it helps him as a shot blocker, but it also makes for some exciting highlights on offense. Beringer seems to want to dunk the ball any chance he gets. Whether it's off of an alley-oop, a cut, or a pick-and-roll, he's looking to throw down.
Aside from that, his offensive game is pretty raw. Beringer isn't great out of the post and has a habit of turning the ball over. The good news is that Boston likely won't be running many post-ups for him if he winds up on the team. He'll be limited to catching and finishing, which is where he's best.
Ironically, Beringer is similar to Robert Williams III when he was entering the league. Both players are athletically gifted, have a knack for blocking shots, and will bring fans out of their seats with loud dunks. It's not difficult to imagine Beringer taking a similar trajectory to Williams where he'd spend a few years developing his game and body before getting any real minutes.
For a more in-depth look at potential Celtics prospects, check out the "How 'Bout Them Celtics" draft preview, where Jack Simone and I run through plenty of names with No Ceilings' Tyler Rucker.